Receptacle assemblies

ABSTRACT

A receptacle assembly includes a receptacle housing, a housing opening, a first receptacle connector, and a second receptacle connector. The receptacle housing includes a first cavity that extends from a first end to a central structure. The housing opening is defined at the first end. The first cavity and the housing opening are sized and shaped to enable insertion of a plug assembly constructed to comply with the Society of Automotive Engineers J2863 standard. The first receptacle connector includes a first portion that extends from the central structure into the first cavity. The second receptacle connector includes a second portion that extends from the central structure into the first cavity. The first and the second receptacle connectors are sized and are disposed such that they are configured to both be inserted into a single connector cavity of the plug assembly and such that they are electrically insulated from one another.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/197,328, filed Jun. 29, 2016. The foregoing application isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The embodiments described in this disclosure are related to receptacleassemblies.

BACKGROUND

When towing and otherwise using a trailer, electrical signals may becommunicated between a tow vehicle and the trailer via a vehicle-trailerwiring connector assembly (hereinafter, connector assembly). Generally,the connector assembly includes a receptacle assembly that is physicallycoupled to the tow vehicle and a plug assembly that is physicallycoupled to trailer. The receptacle assembly is wired to one or moresystems of the tow vehicle and retains electrical connectors. Similarly,the plug assembly is wired to one or more systems of the trailer andretains corresponding electrical connectors. The plug assembly may bepositioned within the receptacle assembly. When the plug assembly ispositioned in the receptacle assembly, the electrical connectorsretained in the receptacle assembly are electrically connected to thecorresponding electrical connectors of the plug assembly. Accordingly,when the plug assembly is positioned in the receptacle assembly,electrical signals that originate in the tow vehicle may be communicatedto the trailer via the electrically connection of the connectorassembly.

The connector assembly and components thereof may be constructedaccording to one or more connector assembly standards. The connectorassembly standards may include dimensions of the connector assembly andcomponents thereof as well as a wiring guide. The connector assemblystandards help ensure that the plug assembly fits into and is retainedby the receptacle assembly and help ensure that each of the electricalconnectors retained in the receptacle assembly is electrically connectedwith the corresponding electrical connector retained in the plugassembly.

One connector assembly standard provides dimensions and a wiring guidefor seven-way connector assemblies. Connector assemblies constructedaccording to the seven-way connector assembly standard include a centralelectrical connector and six electrical connectors that surround thecentral electrical connector. Connector assemblies constructed accordingto the seven-way connector assembly standard include an electricalconnector for a ground, a brake controller, a left turn and left stoplight, a right turn and right stop light, reverse (or back-up) lights, a12 volt auxiliary power, and tail and running lights. There is aseven-way connector assembly standard for round electrical connectorsand for blade-style electrical connectors. In general, the roundelectrical connectors are used in heavy-duty applications, whileblade-style electrical connectors are used in recreational vehicles,cargo trailers, fifth wheels, campers, and other types of trailers. Anexample standard for the round electrical connectors is the Society ofAutomotive Engineers (SAE) J560b standard, which is incorporated in thepresent disclosure by reference in its entirety. An example standard forthe blade-style electrical connectors may include the SAE J2863standard, which is incorporated in the present disclosure by referencein its entirety.

The subject matter claimed in the present disclosure is not limited toembodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only inenvironments such as those described above. Rather, this background isonly provided to illustrate one example technology area where someembodiments described herein may be practiced.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure is a receptacle assembly for avehicle-trailer wiring connector assembly. The receptacle assembly mayinclude a receptacle housing, a housing opening, a first receptacleconnector, and a second receptacle connector. The receptacle housing mayinclude a first cavity. The first cavity may extend from a first end ofthe receptacle housing to a central structure of the receptacle housing.The housing opening may be defined at the first end. At least a portionof the first cavity and at least a portion of the housing opening may besized and shaped to enable insertion of a plug assembly that isconstructed to comply with the Society of Automotive Engineers (“SAE”)J2863 standard. The first receptacle connector may include a firstportion that may extend from the central structure into the firstcavity. The second receptacle connector may include a second portionthat extends from the central structure into the first cavity. The firstreceptacle connector and the second receptacle connector may be sizedand may be disposed with respect to each other such that the firstreceptacle connector and the second receptacle connector are configuredto both be inserted into a single connector cavity of the plug assemblyand such that the second receptacle connector is electrically insulatedfrom the first receptacle connector.

The object and advantages of the embodiments will be realized andachieved at least by the elements, features, and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and arenot restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments will be described and explained with additionalspecificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1A illustrates an example vehicle-trailer wiring connector assembly(connector assembly);

FIG. 1B illustrates the connector assembly of FIG. 1A in anotherconfiguration;

FIG. 1C illustrates the connector assembly of FIG. 1A with an examplesocket assembly included therein;

FIG. 1D illustrates the connector assembly of FIG. 1C in anotherconfiguration;

FIG. 2A illustrates an example receptacle assembly that may beimplemented in the connector assemblies of FIGS. 1A-1D;

FIG. 2B illustrates another view of the receptacle assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C illustrates another view of the receptacle assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D illustrates another view of the receptacle assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2E illustrates another view of the receptacle assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2F illustrates another view of the receptacle assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A illustrates an example receptacle housing that may beimplemented in the receptacle assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3B illustrates another view of the receptacle housing of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C illustrates another view of the receptacle housing of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A illustrates an example split receptacle connector that may beimplemented in the receptacle assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4B illustrates another example split receptacle connector that maybe implemented in the receptacle assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4C illustrates other example receptacle connectors that may beimplemented in the receptacle assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of the receptacle housing of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 6A illustrates an example plug assembly that may be implemented inthe connector assemblies of FIGS. 1A-1D;

FIG. 6B illustrates another view of the plug assembly of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C illustrates another view of the plug assembly of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A illustrates example plug connectors that may be implemented inthe plug assembly of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7B illustrates another view of the plug connectors of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C illustrates another view of the plug connectors of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example group of electrical connectors that may beincluded in the plug connectors of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 9A illustrates an example female connector assembly that may beincluded in the plug assembly of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 9B illustrates another example female connector assembly that maybe included in the plug assembly of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 9C illustrates example female connector assemblies that may beincluded in the plug assembly of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 10A illustrates an example socket assembly that may be implementedin the connector assemblies of FIGS. 1C and 1D;

FIG. 10B illustrates another view of the socket assembly of FIG. 10A;and

FIG. 11 illustrates an example wiring diagram that may be implemented inthe connector assemblies of FIGS. 1A-1D.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Vehicle-trailer wiring connector assemblies (hereinafter, connectorassemblies) may include a receptacle assembly that may be physicallycoupled to a tow vehicle and a plug assembly that may be physicallycoupled to a trailer. When towing and otherwise using the trailer,electrical signals may be communicated between the tow vehicle and thetrailer via the connector assembly. For example, the receptacle assemblymay be configured to be wired to one or more systems of the tow vehicleand may include electrical connectors that may be configured to beelectrically connected to wires that may correspond to the one or moresystems in that the wires may each be configured to carry electricalsignals that may be used by one of the systems. Similarly, the plugassembly may be configured to be wired to one or more systems of thetrailer and may include electrical connectors that may be configured tobe electrically connected to wires that may also correspond to the oneor more systems of the trailer. The plug assembly may be configured tobe positioned within the receptacle assembly such that, when the plugassembly is positioned within the receptacle assembly, each of theelectrical connectors included in the receptacle assembly areelectrically connected to one of the electrical connectors of the plugassembly. Accordingly, when the plug assembly is positioned in thereceptacle assembly, electrical signals may be communicated betweensystems of the tow vehicle and corresponding systems of the trailer viathe electrical connections of the connector assembly. In the presentdisclosure, the term “electrical signals” may refer to any directcurrent (DC) or alternating current (AC) voltage or current, which mayinclude voltages or currents supplied from a positive terminal of apower system (e.g., a positive terminal of a battery or a supply node ofan alternator) and return currents that pass through a “neutral” or“ground” wire connected to a negative terminal of the power system(e.g., a negative terminal of the battery) or to a ground (e.g., thebody of the vehicle) and associated voltages.

As tow vehicles and trailers become more complex, a number of systemsthat may communicate between the trailers and the tow vehicles mayincrease. For example, trailers may include a back-up camera, sonarsystems, tire pressure monitoring systems, weight monitoring systems,alarm systems, etc., which drivers of the tow vehicles may wish toactuate or use.

Such advancement in trailers and tow vehicles may result in an increasein a number of electrical connectors in the plug assembly and thereceptacle assembly. However, a tow vehicle with a receptacle assemblythat includes an increased number of electrical connectors may not bereadily compatible with trailers with plug assemblies that include fewerelectrical connectors. Similarly, a trailer with a plug assembly thatincludes an increased number of electrical connector may not be readilycompatible tow vehicles with receptacle assemblies that include fewerelectrical connectors. The incompatibility of tow vehicles and trailersmay be problematic for users. For example, a user may purchase a newertow vehicle and a newer trailer between which thirteen or anothersuitable number of electrical signals are communicated. The user mayadditionally own an older trailer in which seven electrical signals maybe communicated between the tow vehicle and the older trailer. Inexisting systems, the user may be forced to use multiple receptacleassemblies to use the newer trailer and the older trailer with the newertow vehicle or the older tow vehicle.

Accordingly, some embodiments described in this disclosure may include aconnector assembly that is configured to enable interface of plugassemblies and receptacle assemblies with different numbers ofelectrical connectors in multiple configurations. For example, in anexample embodiment, the connector assembly may include a receptacleassembly. The receptacle assembly may include a receptacle housing thatdefines a first cavity. The first cavity may extend from a first end ofthe receptacle housing to a central structure of the receptacle housing.The housing opening may be defined at the first end. At least a portionof the first cavity and at least a portion of the housing opening may besized and shaped to enable insertion of a plug assembly that isconstructed to comply with the SAE J2863 standard. The receptacleassembly may include receptacle connectors which extend into the firstcavity. The receptacle connectors may include a central electricalconnector configured according to the SAE J2863 standard, six electricalconnectors wired according to the SAE J2863 standard, and six additionalelectrical connectors. Each of the six additional electrical connectorsmay be grouped with one of the six electrical connectors. When the plugassembly, which is constructed according to the SAE J2863 standard, ispositioned in the first cavity, each group of the additional electricalconnectors and the six electrical connectors are received by a singlefemale connector assembly of the plug assembly. When the plug assemblyis a seven-way plug assembly, electrical signals may be communicatedalong the central electrical connector and the six electricalconnectors. When the plug assembly is a thirteen-way plug assembly,electrical signals may be communicated along the central electricalconnector, the six electrical connectors, and the six additionalelectrical connectors.

In another example embodiment, the connector assembly may include a plugassembly. The plug housing may be configured to be positioned in areceptacle assembly. The plug assembly may include six connectorcavities that may be defined in the plug housing and may be radiallydisposed around a connecting face of the plug housing in a hexagonalarrangement in compliance with the SAE J2863 standard. The plug assemblymay include plug connectors, six of which are wired according to the SAEJ2863 standard, a central electrical connector, and six additionalelectrical connectors wired to one or more systems of a trailer notincluded in the SAE J2863 standard. Each of the six electricalconnectors may be positioned in one of the connector cavities with oneof the additional electrical connectors. The six electrical connectorsmay be displaced relative to the additional electrical connector in theconnector cavities and electrically insulated therefrom. These and otherembodiments are described with reference to the appended figures inwhich items labelled with the same item number indicate similarstructure unless otherwise described.

In the present disclosure, reference to an assembly being configuredaccording to the SAE J2863 standard may refer to the assembly beingsized, shaped, constructed, wired, etc., or having one or morecomponents that are sized, oriented, shaped, placed, constructed, wired,etc., such that the assembly provides a particular function according tothe SAE J2863 standard. For example, reference to a plug assembly beingconfigured according the SAE J2863 may indicate that the plug assemblyhas electrical connectors (“plug connectors”) that are sized, shaped,oriented, placed, etc., such that they may be electrically connectedwith systems of a trailer included in the SAE J2863 standard and suchthat the plug connectors may interface with electrical connectors of areceptacle assembly (“receptacle connectors”) that are also sized,shaped, oriented, placed, etc., according to the SAE J2863 standard.

Additionally, reference to a component of an assembly being configuredaccording to the SAE J2863 standard may refer to the component beingsized, oriented, shaped, placed, constructed, wired, etc., or having oneor more sub-components that are sized, oriented, shaped, placed,constructed, wired, etc., such that the component provides a particularfunction according to the SAE J2863 standard. For example, reference toa receptacle connector being configured according to the SAE J2863standard may indicate that the receptacle connector is sized, shaped,oriented, placed, etc., such that it may be inserted in a connectorcavity of a plug assembly and contact a plug connector disposed in theconnector cavity where the connector cavity and the plug connector aresized, shaped, oriented, placed, etc., according to the SAE J2863standard. Similarly, reference to a connector cavity being configuredaccording to the SAE J2863 standard may indicate that the connectorcavity is sized, shaped, oriented, placed, etc. such that acorresponding receptacle connector may be inserted in the connectorcavity. Further, reference to plug assemblies or receptacle assembliesbeing configured according to the SAE J2863 standard may indicate thateach of the plug connectors or receptacle connectors may be assigned tocorrespond to a particular system depending on their placement anddesignation in the SAE J2863 standard.

In addition, reference to a particular component of a particularassembly (e.g., reference to a plug connector of a plug assembly) orreference to a particular sub-component of a component being configuredaccording to the SAE J2863 standard does not require that the entireassembly or component is configured exactly according to the SAE J2863standard. For example, a particular plug assembly may be described asincluding a plug connector configured according to the SAE J2863standard but may also include one or more additional plug connectorsthat may not be part of the SAE J2863 standard.

Similarly, reference to a component (e.g., an electrical connector)corresponding to the SAE J2863 standard may indicate that the componentprovides a particular function that may be outlined by the SAE J2863standard. For example, the SAE J2863 standard includes seven differentelectrical connectors for each plug and receptacle assembly where theseven electrical connectors are designated to provide electricalconnections associated with the following systems or functions: (1) leftturn/stop lights; (2) “−” or ground; (3) electric brakes; (4) rightturn/stop lights; (5) “+” or power supply; (6) running lights; and (7)reverse lights. Therefore, reference to an electrical connector orelectrical connectors corresponding to the SAE J2863 standard mayindicate that the electrical connector or electrical connectors provideelectrical connections that correspond to one of the seven systems orfunctions detailed in the SAE J2863 standard.

Additionally, reference to a component (e.g., an electrical connector)being outside of or in addition to the SAE J2863 standard may indicatethat the component provides a function that may not be included in theSAE J2863 standard. For example, an electrical connector that provideselectrical connections associated with systems or functions other thanthe seven listed above for the SAE J2863 standard may be referred to asbeing outside of or in addition to the SAE J2863 standard. Similarly,reference to a component corresponding to a system that is outside of orin addition to the SAE J2863 standard may indicate that the componentprovides a function for such systems that are not included in the SAEJ2863 standard.

Also, reference to trailer or tow vehicle systems in the presentdisclosure may refer to any component or combination of components thatmay communicate electrical signals. In some embodiments, a system may beas simple as a wire, a series of wires, a light, a series of lights,etc., or as complex as a computer control system and related componentsconfigured to perform more sophisticated operations, or anythingin-between. Some systems may be referred to as corresponding to the SAEJ2863 standard and others may be referred to as being outside of or inaddition to the SAE J2863 standard. Systems referred to as correspondingto the SAE J2863 standard may include those systems which haveelectrical connectors of connector assemblies designated thereto in theSAE J2863 standard. In addition, systems referred to as being outside ofor in addition to the SAE J2863 standard may include those systems thatmay use electrical connections and electrical signals that are notincluded in the SAE J2863 standard.

For example, as indicated above, the SAE J2863 standard includes sevendifferent electrical connectors for each plug and receptacle assembly,where each of the seven electrical connectors corresponds to one of thefollowing: (1) left turn/brake lights; (2) “−” or ground; (3) electricbrakes; (4) right turn/brake lights; (5) “+” or power supply; (6)running lights; and (7) reverse lights. Therefore, reference to systemsthat correspond to the SAE J2863 standard may include power systems thatprovide power to vehicular components; braking systems that use orprovide electrical power to apply brakes; lighting systems that use orprovide electrical signals corresponding to lights such as brake lights,turn signals, flashing hazard lights, running lights, reverse lights,etc.; and grounding systems that provide a grounding or return functionfor the electrical signals and other systems. As another example, somesystems such as back-up cameras, sonar systems, tire pressure monitoringsystems, weight monitoring systems, alarm systems, etc. may require theuse of one or more electrical connectors different from the sevenelectrical connectors included in the SAE J2863 standard. Therefore,these systems may be referred to as being outside of or in addition tothe SAE J2863 standard.

In addition, some systems referred to as corresponding to the SAE J2863standard may be electrically connected to one or more of the sevenelectrical connectors designated according to the SAE J2863 standard.Additionally or alternatively, some systems referred to as being outsideof or in addition to the SAE J2863 standard may also be electricallyconnected to one or more of the seven electrical connectors designatedaccording to the SAE J2863 standard, but may also require the use of oneor more other electrical connectors and corresponding electricalsignals.

Moreover, reference to a plug connector corresponding to a receptacleconnector or vice versa may indicate that the plug connector and thecorresponding receptacle connector are configured to be electricallyconnected to each other when the plug assembly of which the plugconnector is included is inserted into the receptacle assembly of whichthe receptacle connector is included. Further, reference to a component(e.g., a plug connector, a receptacle connector, a wire, etc.)corresponding to a system may indicate that the component is configuredto provide electrical connections that may be used by the correspondingsystem.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example vehicle-trailer wiring connectorassembly (connector assembly) 100 according to some embodimentsdescribed in this disclosure. The connector assembly 100 may include aplug assembly 600 and a receptacle assembly 200. FIG. 1A depicts anexternal view of the plug assembly 600 with a portion thereof positionedin the receptacle assembly 200. FIG. 1B depicts a sectional view of theconnector assembly with the plug assembly 600 withdrawn from thereceptacle assembly 200.

The connector assembly 100 is generally configured for communication ofelectrical signals between a tow vehicle and a trailer. For example, oneor more systems of the tow vehicle may be electrically connected toreceptacle connectors 250 of the receptacle assembly 200. One or moresystems of the trailer may be electrically connected to plug connectors650 of the plug assembly 600. The plug assembly 600 and the receptacleassembly 200 may be configured such that when a portion of the plugassembly 600 is positioned in the receptacle assembly 200 as in FIG. 1A,the receptacle connectors 250 contact the plug connectors 650, which mayenable communication of electrical signals from a particular system ofthe tow vehicle through one or more of the receptacle connectors 250,through corresponding plug connectors 650, and to a corresponding systemof the trailer. Additionally, the plug assembly 600 and the receptacleassembly 200 may be configured such that when the plug assembly 600 iswithdrawn from the receptacle assembly 200 as in FIG. 1B, the receptacleconnectors 250 are electrically disconnected from the plug connectors650.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B, portions of the plug assembly 600and the receptacle assembly 200 may be constructed according to the SAEJ2863 standard. Construction of portions according to the SAE J2863standard may enable use of the receptacle assembly 200 with the plugassembly 600 of FIGS. 1A and 1B as well as with other plug assembliesthat are constructed according to the SAE J2863 standard. For instance,with reference to FIG. 1B, the receptacle assembly 200 may include afirst cavity 202 that includes a diameter 240 that is sized to enableinsertion of the plug assembly 600 of FIGS. 1A and 1B as well as anyother plug assembly that is sized according to the SAE J2863 standard.

In addition, the receptacle connectors 250 may be configured to enableuse with the plug assembly 600 of FIGS. 1A and 1B as well as any otherplug assembly that is configured according to the SAE J2863 standard.For example, one or more of the receptacle connectors 250 may includeone or more split receptacle connectors 400. A first receptacleconnector of the split receptacle connector 400 may correspond to theSAE J2863 standard in that it may be configured (e.g., sized, placed,shaped, oriented, etc.) to interface with a corresponding plug connectorof a plug assembly configured according to the SAE J2863 standard. Inaddition, the split receptacle connector 400 may include one or moresecond receptacle connectors configured to interface with one or morecorresponding additional plug connectors of another plug assembly (e.g.,the plug assembly 600) where the additional plug connectors may not bepart of the SAE J2863 standard.

The plug assembly 600 may be configured such that when the portion ofthe plug assembly 600 is positioned in the receptacle assembly 200, thefirst receptacle connector and the one or more second receptacleconnectors of the split receptacle connector 400 may each contact one ofthe plug connectors 650. The receptacle assembly 200 may also beconfigured such that when another plug assembly that is constructed andwired according to the SAE J2863 standard is positioned in thereceptacle assembly 200, the first receptacle connector of the splitreceptacle connector 400 contacts one of the plug connectors of the plugassembly. However, the plug assembly that is wired according to the SAEJ2863 standard may not include a plug connector that corresponds to theone or more second connectors of the split receptacle connector 400.Accordingly, any signals that may be communicated along the one or moresecond receptacle connectors may not be communicated to the plugassembly that is configured according to the SAE J2863 standard.

Such construction enables use of the receptacle assembly 200 withtrailers that include the plug assembly 600 as well as the other plugassemblies configured according to the SAE J2863 standard. For example,a user may own a single tow vehicle such as a pick-up truck and may alsoown an equipment trailer and a camping trailer with some updatedelectrical systems. The tow vehicle may have the receptacle assembly 200of FIGS. 1A and 1B physically and electrically connected thereto. Theequipment trailer may have a 7-way plug assembly configured according tothe SAE J2863 standard physically and electrically connected thereto.The camping trailer may have the plug assembly 600 physically andelectrically connected thereto. The user may be able to position the7-way plug assembly of the equipment trailer in the receptacle assembly200. Electrical signals that originate at the tow vehicle may becommunicated to a subset of the receptacle connectors 250 that may beconfigured according to the SAE J2863 standard in that the receptacleconnectors 250 may contact the plug connectors of the 7-way plugassembly. The user may also be able to position the plug assembly 600 inthe receptacle assembly 200. Electrical signals may be communicatedbetween the tow vehicle and the camping trailer via the subset of thereceptacle connectors 250 configured according to the SAE J2863 standardas well as via one or more second receptacle connectors included in thereceptacle connectors 250 and the plug connectors 650 that are outsideof the SAE J2863 standard.

In addition, the plug connectors 650 may be configured to enable theplug assembly to be used with the receptacle assembly 200 as well as anyother receptacle assembly that is configured according to the SAE J2863standard. For example, the plug connectors 650 may include one or morefirst plug connectors that may be configured according to the SAE J2863standard. The plug connectors 650 may also include one or more secondplug connectors that may be outside of the SAE J2863 standard. In someembodiments, a particular first plug connector and one or more secondplug connectors may be disposed or positioned in a same one of multipleconnector cavities defined in the plug housing 620. As discussed infurther detail below, the plug assembly 600 may be configured such thatwhen the portion of the plug assembly 600 is positioned in thereceptacle assembly 200, the first plug connectors and the second plugconnectors of the plug connectors 650 each contact one of the receptacleconnectors 250. Additionally, as discussed in further detail below, theplug assembly 600 may be configured such that when the portion of theplug assembly 600 is positioned in another receptacle assembly that isconfigured according to the SAE J2863 standard, each of the one or morefirst plug connectors of the plug connectors 250 contact one of thereceptacle connectors of the other receptacle assembly. However, asdetailed elsewhere in this disclosure, in some embodiments, the plugassembly 600 may also be configured such that electrical connectionsthat may be provided by the second plug connectors of the plugconnectors 650 with respect to corresponding systems of a trailer may bedisconnected to prevent transmission of electrical signals along thesecond connectors to and/or from the corresponding systems of thetrailer.

Such construction may enable use of the plug assembly 600 with towvehicles that include the receptacle assembly 200 as well as otherreceptacle assemblies configured according to the SAE J2863 standard.For example, a user may own two tow vehicles; one with a 7-wayreceptacle assembly configured according to the SAE J2863 standard, andanother with the receptacle assembly 200. The user may also own acamping trailer with the plug assembly 600. In some embodiments, theplug assembly 600 may be configured such that when the camping traileris towed by the tow vehicle with the 7-way receptacle assembly, thefirst plug connectors may be electrically connected with the receptacleconnectors of the 7-way receptacle assembly and the second plugconnectors may be disconnected or otherwise configured to preventcommunication of electrical signals. When the camping trailer is towedby the tow vehicle with the receptacle assembly 200, electrical signalsmay be communicated along the first plug connectors that correspond tothe SAE J2863 standard and the second plug connectors that do notcorrespond to the SAE J2863.

In the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the plug connectors650 of the plug assembly 600 and the receptacle connectors 250 of thereceptacle assembly 200 each include thirteen electrical connectors.Seven of the thirteen electrical connectors may correspond to the SAEJ2863 standard. For instance, six electrical connectors and a centralelectrical connector may be configured according to the SAE J2863standard such that they may correspond to the 7 systems or functions ofthe SAE J2863 standard described above. In addition, six of the thirteenelectrical connectors may be wired to communicate electrical signalsthat are outside of or in addition to the SAE J2863 standard. Forexample, seven of the connectors in the plug connectors 650 and thereceptacle connectors 250 may be configured to provide electricalconnections associated with (1) left turn/stop lights; (2) “−” orground; (3) electric brakes; (4) right turn/stop lights; (5) “+” orpower supply; (6) running lights; and (7) reverse lights. The other sixconnectors may be configured to provide electrical connections that mayrelate to an accessory or system that is outside of or in addition tothe SAE J2863 standard.

In some embodiments, the receptacle connectors 250 and/or the plugconnector 650 may include fewer than thirteen electrical connectors ormore than thirteen electrical connectors. For example, the receptacleconnectors 250 and/or the plug connector 650 may each include betweeneight and twelve connectors. In these embodiments, seven of theconnectors may correspond to the SAE J2863 standard and one or moreadditional connectors may be outside of or in addition to the SAE J2863standard. In other embodiments that include more than thirteenconnectors, seven of the connectors may correspond to the SAE J2863standard, while six or more additional connectors may be outside of orin addition to the SAE J2863 standard. Moreover, in some embodiments,the receptacle connectors 250 and/or the plug connectors 650 may notinclude seven connectors that are configured according to the SAE J2863standard. Instead, in these and other embodiments, fewer than seven ofthe connectors may be configured according to the SAE J2863 standard,which may enable communication of additional electrical signalsassociated with systems that are outside of or in addition to the SAEJ2863 standard.

FIGS. 1C and 1D illustrate an example embodiment of the connectorassembly 100 that includes the receptacle assembly 200, the plugassembly 600, as well as a socket assembly 1000. FIG. 1C depicts theplug assembly 600 positioned in the first cavity 202 of the receptacleassembly 200 and the socket assembly 1000 positioned around a secondcavity 204 of the receptacle assembly 200 with a portion of the socketassembly 1000 positioned in the second cavity 204. FIG. 1D depicts theplug assembly 600, the receptacle assembly 200, and the socket assembly1000 exploded from one another.

The socket assembly 1000 may include socket connectors 1002. A firstportion 1007 of one or more of the socket connectors 1002 may beelectrically connected to wires, which may be electrically connected toone or more systems of a tow vehicle. A second portion 1009 of thesocket connectors 1002 may be configured to contact the receptacleconnectors 250 when an insertion portion 1005 of a socket housing 1003is positioned within the second cavity 204 of the receptacle assembly200.

One or more of the socket connectors 1002 may be electrically connectedvia a wire to one or more systems as specified in the SAE J2863standard. In addition, one or more of the socket connectors 1002 may beelectrically connected to a wire that is also connected to a system thatis not included in the SAE J2863 standard.

Accordingly, when the socket assembly 1000 is engaged with thereceptacle assembly 200 as depicted in FIG. 1C, electrical signals maybe communicated from one or more systems of the tow vehicle throughwires and to the first portion 1007 of the socket connectors 1002. Theelectrical signals may be communicated to one or more of the receptacleconnectors 250 by the second portion 1009 of the socket connectors 1002.Modifications, omissions, and/or changes may be made to one or more ofthe embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D without departing from thescope of the disclosure.

In the following paragraphs the receptacle assembly 200 is describedwith reference to FIGS. 2A-5. The plug assembly 600 is described withreference to FIGS. 6A-9B. The socket assembly 1000 is described withreference to FIGS. 10A and 10B. FIG. 11 is an example wiring diagramthat may be implemented in the connector assembly 100.

FIGS. 2A-2F illustrate an example embodiment of the receptacle assembly200 that may be implemented in the connector assembly 100 of FIGS.1A-1D, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG. 2A depicts a perspective view of the receptacle assembly 200. InFIG. 2A, the receptacle assembly 200 is depicted with a receptacle door221 that is in a closed position relative to a receptacle housing 300 ofthe receptacle assembly 200. FIG. 2B depicts another perspective view ofthe receptacle assembly 200. In FIG. 2B, the receptacle door 221 isconfigured in an open position relative to the receptacle housing 300.FIG. 2C depicts a sectional view of the receptacle assembly 200. FIG. 2Ddepicts a rear planar view of the receptacle assembly 200. FIG. 2Edepicts a front planar view of the receptacle assembly 200. FIG. 2Fdepicts another perspective view of the receptacle assembly 200 with thereceptacle door 221 removed.

The receptacle assembly 200 includes the receptacle connectors 250disposed in the receptacle housing 300. In some embodiments, thereceptacle connectors 250 may be constructed of a metal such as copper,steal, zinc, combinations thereof, or another electrically conductivematerial. In some embodiments, the receptacle housing 300 may beconstructed of a plastic in which the receptacle connectors 250 arepositioned. In some embodiments, the receptacle housing 300 may beconstructed of a metal or another material. In these and otherembodiments, the receptacle connectors 250 may be fixed to thereceptacle housing 300. For example, the receptacle connectors 250 maybe soldered or epoxied to the receptacle housing 300.

With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the receptacle assembly 200 includesthe receptacle door 221 and the receptacle housing 300. The receptacledoor 221 may rotate relative to the receptacle housing 300 about a hinge223. The receptacle door 221 may be positioned in an open position asdepicted in FIG. 2A and in a closed position as depicted in FIG. 2B. Thehinge 223 may be configured to maintain the receptacle door 221 in theclosed position. In the closed position of FIG. 2A, the receptacleconnectors 250 may not be accessible and may be protected from ambientconditions such as rain and mud. For example, the receptacle door 221may be sealed or substantially seal relative to a flange portion 225 ofthe receptacle housing 300. When closed, the receptacle door 221 mayprevent introduction of a plug assembly, such as the plug assembly 600of FIGS. 1A and 1B into the receptacle housing 300. The receptacle door221 may be in the closed position between uses, for instance.

With reference to FIG. 2B, the receptacle assembly 200 may include thereceptacle housing 300. The receptacle housing 300 may define the firstcavity 202. The first cavity 202 may be substantially cylindrical andmay include a first end 233. The first cavity 202 may extend from acentral structure 231 to the first end 233, at which a housing opening229 is defined. The first cavity 202 is configured to enable insertionof a plug assembly such as the plug assembly 600 of FIGS. 1A and 1Band/or other plug assemblies configured according to the SAE J2863standard. For example, the first cavity 202 and/or the housing opening229 may include a diameter 240 that is sized to receive a plug assemblythat is constructed according to the SAE J2863 standard. An example ofthe diameter 240 may be between about four centimeters (cm) and about4.5 cm, such as 4.25 cm, for example.

In the open position of FIG. 2B, a sealing surface 227 of the receptacledoor 221 is separated from the flange portion 225 of the receptaclehousing 300. In the open position of FIG. 2B, the first cavity 202defined by the receptacle housing 300 is uncovered and the receptacleconnectors 250 are accessible. Accordingly, a plug assembly such as theplug assembly 600 of FIGS. 1A and 1B and/or another plug assemblyconstructed according to the SAE J2863 standard may be positioned in thefirst cavity 202. In general, the receptacle door 221 is in the openposition of FIG. 2B when a plug assembly is positioned in the firstcavity 202 of the receptacle assembly 200.

The embodiments of FIGS. 2A and 2B include the receptacle door 221 andthe flange portion 225. Some embodiments of the receptacle assembly 200may not include the receptacle door 221 and/or the flange portion 225.For instance, the receptacle housing 300 may remain in a configurationin which the first cavity 202 is uncovered. Alternatively, thereceptacle housing 300 may include the receptacle door 221, which mayseal or substantially seal against the first end 233 of the first cavity202.

With reference to FIG. 2C, the receptacle assembly 200 may include thereceptacle connectors 250. First portions 251 of the receptacleconnectors 250 may extend from the central structure 231 of thereceptacle housing 300 into the first cavity 202. The receptacleconnectors 250 are configured to be electrically connected to systems ofa tow vehicle and to be engaged with and contact plug connectors when aplug assembly is positioned in the first cavity 202. For example, thefirst portions 251 of the receptacle connectors 250 that extend into thefirst cavity 202 are configured to be engaged with and contact the plugconnectors of a plug assembly.

The receptacle connectors 250 may also include second portions 253. Thesecond portions 253 of the receptacle connectors 250 are configured tobe electrically connected to one or more systems of the tow vehicle. Thesecond portions 253 of the receptacle connectors 250 may extend into asecond cavity 204. The second cavity 204 is defined by the receptaclehousing 300 and may extend from the central structure 231 in a directionaway from the housing opening 229. For example, in FIG. 2C, the secondcavity 204 may extend in an arbitrarily defined negative x-direction ofFIG. 2C. In some embodiments, the receptacle connectors 250 may beindirectly electrically connected to the one or more systems of the towvehicle. For instance, in these and other embodiments, the secondportions 253 may be received in a vehicle plug assembly that is receivedin the second cavity 204.

Referring to FIGS. 2C and 2D, the second portions 253 of the receptacleconnectors 250 are shown. The second portions 253 of the embodiment ofFIGS. 2C and 2D may be male connectors. For example, the second portions253 may be configured to be received in one or more female electricalconnectors or female connector assemblies, which may be included in avehicle plug assembly that is configured to be positioned in the secondcavity 204. The second portions 253 and the receptacle connectors 250may penetrate the central structure 231 of the receptacle housing 300such that the second portions 253 extend into the second cavity 204 andthe first portions 251 extend into the first cavity 202.

The second portions 253 of one or more of the receptacle connectors 250may include a male electrical connector. For example, one or more of thesecond portions 253 may be configured to be received in a femaleelectrical connector, which may be included in a socket assembly (e.g.,the socket assembly 1000) that is configured to be positioned in thesecond cavity 204 as described elsewhere in this disclosure.

In some embodiments, the second portions 253 of one or more of thereceptacle connectors 250 may include a female electrical connector. Forexample, one or more of the second portions 253 may be configured toreceive a male electrical connector, which may be included in a vehicleplug assembly that is configured to be positioned in the second cavity204.

The central structure 231 may retain the second portions 253 of thereceptacle connectors 250 in an example rear receptacle arrangement 280(depicted in FIG. 2D). In the example rear receptacle arrangement 280 ofFIG. 2D, the connectors of the receptacle connectors 250 other than thecentral receptacle connector 211 are grouped with one or more other ofthe connectors of the receptacle connectors 250. For instance, in thedepicted embodiment, the connectors of the receptacle connectors 250other than the central receptacle connector 211 are grouped with oneother of the connectors of the receptacle connectors 250, which arereferred to as grouped connectors 282. One of the grouped connectors 282is labeled in FIG. 2D.

The electrical connectors of the grouped connectors 282 may besubstantially parallel to one another and/or may be orientedsubstantially symmetric with one another. For instance, first groupedconnectors 282 may include a first connector 281A and a second connector281B. The first connector 281A may be substantially parallel to thesecond connector 281B. In addition, the first connector 281A may beoriented substantially symmetric to the second connector 281B across anaxis 283. The axis 283 may be positioned between the first connector281A and the second connector 281B. In addition, the first connector281A may be electrically insulated from the second connector 281B.

In the rear receptacle arrangement 280, six of the grouped connectors282 are distributed circumferentially around the central receptacleconnector 211. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 2D, the groupedconnectors are positioned about every 60 degrees around the centralreceptacle connector 211. In other embodiments, one or more of thegrouped connectors 282 may be space more than 60 degrees or less than 60degrees from other grouped connectors 282.

Additionally, the distribution of the grouped connectors 282 may beoriented relative to a first axis 285 and a second axis 287. The firstaxis 285 may be substantially perpendicular to the second axis 287. Thefirst axis 285 and the second axis 287 may substantially bisect thesecond cavity 204.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2D, two of the grouped connectors 282 may bepositioned along the second axis 287, one of which may be radiallydisplaced in the x-direction or only in the x-direction from the otherwith respect to the illustrated x-axis. The second axis 287 may bisectthe grouped connectors 282 positioned on the second axis 287.Additionally or alternatively, four of the grouped connectors 282 may bepositioned ±30 degrees from the first axis 285 and ±60 degrees from thesecond axis 287. Additionally, none of the grouped connectors 282 arepositioned on the first axis 285 in the illustrated embodiment.

With reference to FIGS. 2E and 2F, the receptacle connectors 250 mayinclude one or more of the split receptacle connectors 400 mentionedabove. In the example embodiment of FIGS. 2E and 2F, the receptacleassembly 200 may include six split receptacle connectors 400, only oneof which is labelled. The split receptacle connectors 400 may eachinclude a first receptacle connector that corresponds to the SAE J2863standard and one or more second receptacle connectors that are inaddition to or outside of the SAE J2863 standard. The first receptacleand the one or more second receptacle connectors may be grouped as thesplit receptacle connector 400. The split receptacle connector 400,which includes the first receptacle connector and the second receptacleconnectors, may be configured to be received in a connector cavity of asingle female connector assembly of the plug assembly, such as the plugassembly 600 of FIGS. 1A and 1B or another plug assembly constructedaccording to the SAE J2863 standard.

In addition, the receptacle connectors 250 may include a centralreceptacle connector 211. The central receptacle connector 211 may bealigned substantially parallel to a central axis 213 (FIG. 2F) of thereceptacle housing 300. In the SAE J2863, the central receptacleconnector 211 may be configured to communicate electrical signalsassociated with the reverse lights. In some embodiments of thereceptacle assembly 200, the central receptacle connector 211 may besplit or include multiple connectors that communicate the reverse lightas well as one or more other electrical signals.

The split receptacle connectors 400 may be radially displaced from thecentral receptacle connector 211 and positioned circumferentially aroundthe central receptacle connector 211. The split receptacle connectors400 may be generally configured in a hexagonal arrangement 215 (FIG. 2E)that may be arranged according to the SAE J2863 standard.

One or more of the split receptacle connectors 400 may form a maleconnector. The male connector may be configured to be received in afemale connector assembly of the plug assembly such as the plug assembly600 of FIGS. 1A and 1B when the plug assembly is positioned in the firstcavity 202. One or more of the split receptacle connectors 400 mayinclude a first receptacle connector 217 and a second receptacleconnector 219. The first receptacle connector 217 is separated from thesecond receptacle connector 219 by an insulator tab 506. The insulatortab 506 electrically insulates the first receptacle connector 217 fromthe second receptacle connector 219.

In some embodiments, the first receptacle connector 217 or the secondreceptacle connector 219 may correspond to the SAE J2863 standard. Inaddition, the central receptacle connector 211 may correspond to the SAEJ2863 standard. In these and other embodiments, the other of the firstreceptacle connector 217 or the second receptacle connector 219 maycorrespond to the wiring of systems outside of the SAE J2863 standardand the corresponding communication of electrical signals associatedwith those systems. Accordingly, the example receptacle assembly 200 maybe configured to provide electrical connections that correspond to theSAE J2863 standard as well as six additional electrical connections.

The six split receptacle connectors 400 may each provide at least twodistinct and electrically insulated electrical connections and may eachbe configured to fit in a connector cavity of a female connectorassembly of the plug assembly 600. Additionally, the six splitreceptacle connectors 400 may each be configured to fit in a connectorcavity of another plug assembly configured according to the SAE J2863standard. Accordingly, in some embodiments, when the plug assembly 600of FIGS. 1A and 1B is positioned in the first cavity 202 of thereceptacle assembly 200, each of the first receptacle connectors 217 andeach of the second receptacle connectors 219 of the split receptacleconnectors 400 may be in contact with one and only one of the plugconnectors 650. In addition, in some embodiments, the receptacleassembly 200 may be configured such that when another plug assemblyconstructed according to the SAE J2863 standard is positioned in thefirst cavity 202, the central receptacle connector 211 and the firstreceptacle connectors 217 of each of the split receptacle connectors 400may be configured such that the first receptacle connectors 217 contactthe plug connectors included in the corresponding connector cavity ofthe other plug constructed according to the SAE J2863 standard.Additionally or alternatively, the receptacle assembly 200 may also beconfigured such that when another plug assembly constructed according tothe SAE J2863 standard is positioned in the first cavity 202, the secondreceptacle connectors 219 of each of the split receptacle connectors 400may be configured such that the second receptacle connectors 219 areelectrically insulated from the plug connectors included in thecorresponding connector cavity of the other plug constructed accordingto the SAE J2863 standard.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2F, the receptacle assembly 200 includessix split receptacle connectors 400. In other embodiments, thereceptacle assembly 200 may include fewer than six split receptacleconnectors 400. In these and other embodiments, the receptacle assembly200 may include the central receptacle connector 211. In addition to thecentral receptacle connector 211, in some embodiments, the receptacleassembly 200 may include up to five receptacle connectors that areradially displaced from the central receptacle connector 211. The up tofive receptacle connectors may be configured according to the SAE J2863standard and one or more of the up to five receptacle connectors may bea standard male connector or another appropriate electrical connectorthat may conform to the SAE J2863 standard. The receptacle connectorsother than the up to five receptacle connectors may include the splitreceptacle connector 400 described in this disclosure.

Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the split receptacleconnectors 400 may include one receptacle connector (e.g., the firstreceptacle connector 217 or 219) that corresponds to the SAE J2863standard and two or more receptacle connectors that are outside of theSAE J2863 standard. Some additional details of these embodiments areprovided with reference to FIG. 4B.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate an example embodiment of the receptacle housing300. FIG. 3A depicts a perspective view of the receptacle housing 300,FIG. 3B depicts a planar front view of the receptacle housing 300, andFIG. 3C depicts a planar rear view of the receptacle housing 300. Withreference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the receptacle housing 300 defines thefirst cavity 202. The first cavity 202 includes a substantiallycylindrical portion along with one or more alignment features 311A-311D(generally, alignment feature 311 or alignment features 311). Thealignment features 311 are configured to orient a plug assembly relativeto the receptacle housing 300. The plug assembly such as the plugassembly 600 of FIGS. 1A and 1B may include corresponding alignmentfeatures that may be configured to pass through the alignment features311. Additionally, a plug assembly configured according to the SAE J2863standard may include one or more corresponding alignment features. Thealignment features 311 may help to ensure that electrical connectorsdesignated as corresponding to each other (e.g., 250 and 650 of FIGS. 1Aand 1B) contact one another when a plug assembly is positioned in thefirst cavity 202.

With reference to FIGS. 3A-3C, the receptacle housing 300 furtherdefines one or more central connector openings 301 and 303. The centralconnector openings 301 and 303 may enable penetration of the centralstructure 231 by a portion of a central receptacle connector (e.g., thecentral receptacle connector 211 of FIGS. 2E and 2F).

The receptacle housing 300 of FIGS. 3A-3C further defines multiple firstconnector openings 502 and multiple second connector openings 504. Onlyone of the first connector openings 502 and one of the second connectoropenings 504 is labelled in FIGS. 3A-3C. The first connector openings502 and the second connector openings 504 extend from the second cavity204 of FIG. 3C to the first cavity 202 of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

The first connector opening 502 is configured to secure a firstreceptacle connector relative to the receptacle housing 300. The secondconnector opening 504 is configured to secure a second receptacleconnector relative to the receptacle housing 300. For example, withcombined reference to FIGS. 3A and 2E, the first connector opening 502is configured to secure the first receptacle connector 217 relative tothe receptacle housing 300 and the second connector opening 504 may beconfigured to secure the second receptacle connector 219 relative to thereceptacle housing 300.

When the first receptacle connector 217 is positioned in the firstconnector opening 502, the first receptacle connector 217 is positionedradially with respect to the central axis 213 and the second receptacleconnector 219. In addition, when the first receptacle connector 217 ispositioned in the first connector opening 502, the first receptacleconnector 217 is secured circumferentially around the central axis 213.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, the receptacle housing 300 includes one ormore insulator tabs 506. Only one of the insulator tabs 506 is labelledin FIGS. 3A-3C. The insulator tabs 506 may extend into the first cavity202 from the central structure 231. One or more of the insulator tabs506 is positioned between one of the first connector openings 502 andone of the second connector openings 504. The insulator tabs 506 areimplemented to insulate a first receptacle connector positioned in oneof the first connector openings 502 from a second receptacle connectorpositioned in one of the second connector openings 504.

For example, with reference to FIGS. 3B and 2E, when the firstreceptacle connector 217 is positioned in the first connector opening502 and the second receptacle connector 219 is positioned in the secondconnector opening 504, one of the insulator tabs 506 electricallyinsulate the first receptacle connector 217 from the second receptacleconnector 219.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example embodiment of the split receptacleconnector 400. FIG. 4A depicts the split receptacle connector 400 with aportion of the receptacle assembly 200. As discussed above, the splitreceptacle connector 400 may include the first receptacle connector 217and the second receptacle connector 219 separated by the insulator tab506. The first receptacle connector 217 is positioned in the firstconnector opening 502 and the second receptacle connector 219 ispositioned in the second connector opening 504.

The first receptacle connector 217 and the second receptacle connector219 may be included in a first portion 251 of the split receptacleconnector 400 that is positioned in the first cavity 202. The firstreceptacle connector 217 and the second receptacle connector 219 mayalso be included in a second portion 253 of the split receptacleconnector 400 that is positioned in the second cavity 204.

The second receptacle connector 219 includes a substantially planarportion 402 that is connected to an arced portion 404. The arced portion404 of the second receptacle connector 219 extends towards the centralaxis (213 of FIGS. 3A and 2F) of the receptacle housing 300 and awayfrom the insulator tab 506, in some embodiments. Similarly, the firstreceptacle connector 217 includes a substantially planar portion 406that is connected to an arced portion 408. The arced portion 408 of thefirst receptacle connector 217 extends away from the central axis of thereceptacle housing 300 and away from the insulator tab 506, in someembodiments.

In some embodiments, the substantially planar portion 402 of the secondreceptacle connector 219 is radially displaced from the central axis 213of FIG. 2F. Additionally or alternatively, the substantially planarportion 406 of the first receptacle connector 217 is radially displacedfrom the central axis 213 of FIG. 2F and radially displaced from thesubstantially planar portion 402 of second receptacle connector 219 insome embodiments. In these or other embodiments, the substantiallyplanar portion 402 of the second receptacle connector 219 is orientedsubstantially parallel to the substantially planar portion 406 of thesecond receptacle connector 219.

The insulator tab 506 may contact the first receptacle connector 217 andthe second receptacle connector 219 at the substantially planar portions402 and 406 in some embodiments. Additionally, the insulator tab 506 maycontact the first receptacle connector 217 and the second receptacleconnector 219 at upper ends 410 and 412 of the arced portions 404 and408. In some embodiments, the insulator tab 506 may be configured toalways contact one or both of the first receptacle connector 217 and thesecond receptacle connector 219. Additionally or alternatively, thefirst receptacle connector 217 or the second receptacle connector 219may not always contact the insulator tab 506, but the insulator tab 506may be configured to prevent the first receptacle connector 217 fromcontacting the second receptacle connector 219 and to electricallyinsulate the first receptacle connector 217 from the second receptacleconnector 219.

The arced portions 404 and 408 may flex towards the insulator tab 506.For example, when a plug assembly such as the plug assembly 600 of FIGS.1A and 1B or another plug assembly constructed according to the SAEJ2863 standard is inserted in the receptacle assembly 200, the splitreceptacle connector 400 may be received in a connector cavity of afemale electrical connector assembly. The connector cavity of the femaleelectrical connector assembly may be sized such that the arced portions404 and 408 are pressed towards the insulator tab 506. Pressing thearced portions 404 and 408 towards the insulator tab 506 may helpmaintain contact between one or both of the arced portions 404 and 408and corresponding electrical contact surfaces of a plug connector thatmay be included in the connector cavity of the female electricalconnector assembly. Additionally or alternatively, the pressing of thearced portions 404 and 408 towards the insulator tab 506 may help retainthe female electrical connector assembly in a given position relative tothe split receptacle connector 400, such as within the first cavity 202.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, the insulator tab 506 extends from theupper ends 410 and 412 of the arced portions 404 and 408 to lower ends414 and 416 of the first and second receptacle connectors 217 and 219.In addition, in the embodiment of FIG. 4A, the insulator tab 506includes a single structure. In other embodiments, the insulator tab 506may not extend from the upper ends 410 and 412 to the lower ends 414 and416. Additionally or alternatively, the insulator tabs 506 may includemultiple structures that separate the first receptacle connector 217from the second receptacle connector 219.

FIG. 4B illustrates another example embodiment of the split receptacleconnector 400. In the split receptacle connector 400 of FIG. 4B, thefirst receptacle connector 217 corresponds to the SAE J2863 standard. Inaddition to the first receptacle connector 217, the split receptacleconnector 400 includes two or more second receptacle sub-connectors431A-431D (generally, sub-connectors 431 or sub-connector 431).

The sub-connectors 431 may be included on one side of the splitreceptacle connectors 400 with the other side of the split receptacleconnectors 400 including the first receptacle connector 217.Accordingly, the sub-connectors 431 may form one side of a maleconnector that may be positioned with the first receptacle connector 217in a female connector assembly.

The sub-connectors 431 may be electrically insulated from the firstreceptacle connector 217 and from each of the other sub-connectors 431.For instance, the sub-connectors 431 may be separated from one anotherby sub-connector insulators 433. In some embodiments, one or more of thesub-connector insulators 433 may include a physical component that mayact as an electrical insulator, such as a plastic tab. In these or otherembodiments, one or more of the sub-connector insulators 433 may includeair. Each of the sub-connectors 431 may be configured to provideelectrical connections for systems and corresponding electrical signalsthat may be outside of or in addition to the SAE J2863 standard.Embodiments of the receptacle assembly 200 implementing thesub-connectors 431 may be configured to communicate with a plug assemblywith corresponding sub-connectors.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4B, the receptacle connectors 250 include sixsplit receptacle connectors 400. Two of the six split receptacleconnectors 400 include the sub-connectors 431 while four of the sixsplit receptacle connectors 400 do not include the sub-connectors 431.In other embodiments, one or more of the split receptacle connectors 400may include sub-connectors 431.

Additionally, the split receptacle connector 400 of FIG. 4B includesfour sub-connectors 431. In other embodiments, the split receptacleconnectors 400 may include more than four (e.g., five, six, twenty,etc.) sub-connectors 431 or fewer than four (e.g., three or two)sub-connectors 431. Additionally still, in the embodiment of FIG. 4B,the inner face (e.g., closer to the central receptacle connector 211) ofthe split receptacle connector 400 includes the sub-connectors 431. Inother embodiments, the outer face (e.g., farther from the centralreceptacle connector 211) of the split receptacle connector 400 mayinclude the sub-connectors 431.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of an example embodiment of the receptaclehousing 300. FIG. 5 depicts a planar view of a portion of the receptaclehousing 300 that includes the first connector opening 502 and the secondconnector opening 504. The first connector opening 502 may besubstantially symmetric to the second connector opening 504 across theinsulator tab 506. The first connector opening 502 is displaced radiallyfrom the second connector opening 504.

In some embodiments, each of the first connector opening 502 and thesecond connector opening 504 may be individually defined in thereceptacle housing 300. In these and other embodiments, the insulatortab 506 or some portion thereof may be formed between the firstconnector opening 502 and the second connector opening 504. In otherembodiments, the first connector opening 502, the second connectoropening 504, and a tab opening 510 may be defined in the receptaclehousing 300. In these and other embodiments, the first connector opening502, the second connector opening 504, and the tab opening 510 may be asingle volume that is defined in the receptacle housing 300. The tabopening 510 may be sized to receive the insulator tab 506. In addition,in these and other embodiments, the split receptacle connector (e.g.,the split receptacle connector 400 described in this disclosure) may beassembled and then positioned in the first connector opening 502, thesecond connector opening 504, and the tab opening 510. For example, withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first receptacle connector 217 may beassembled with the second receptacle connector 219 and the insulator tab506 to form the split receptacle connector 400. The split receptacleconnector 400 may be positioned in the first connector opening 502, thesecond connector opening 504, and the tab opening 510 in an assembledconfiguration. In some embodiments, one or more of the first receptacleconnector 217, the second receptacle connector 219, the insulator tab506, or some combination thereof may be positioned in one or more of thefirst connector opening 502, the second connector opening 504, and thetab opening 510 individually.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the receptacleassembly 200 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 4B, one of the split receptacleconnectors 400 includes receptacle sub-connectors 431. In these or otherembodiments, more than one of the split receptacle connectors 400 mayinclude receptacle sub-connector 431.

Additionally or alternatively, instead of the central receptacleconnector 211 including an electrical connector in which a singleelectrical signal is communicated, two or more central receptacleconnectors that may be electrically insulated from each other may beincluded in the receptacle assembly 200. For example, the centralreceptacle connector 211 is illustrated as having two portions in theillustrated embodiment in which the two portions may be electricallyconnected to each other. In another embodiment, each of the two portionsmay be electrically insulated from each other such that they may beconfigured to provide electrical connections for different electricalsignals. A first of the two portions may correspond to the SAE J2863standard and a second of the two portions may be outside of or inaddition to the SAE J2863 standard. Additionally or alternatively, thefirst portion or the second portion may include receptaclesub-connectors in some embodiments. In these or other embodiments, thereceptacle assembly 200 may include a switch that may be configured toelectrically disconnect the second portion from an associated system orsystems (e.g., when the second portion includes sub-connectors) of thetow vehicle for when a plug assembly that corresponds to the SAE J2863standard is inserted in the receptacle assembly 200. Further, in someembodiments, one or more insulator tabs 506 may be omitted and thecorresponding first and second receptacle connectors may have, forexample, air between them, and may be configured such that they may nottouch.

In addition, in the example embodiment of FIG. 4B, the inner receptacleconnectors are illustrated as having sub-connectors. However, in someembodiments, one or more outer receptacle connectors may be configuredwith sub-connectors in a similar manner. Additionally or alternatively,an outer receptacle connector with sub-connectors may be grouped with aninner receptacle connector with sub-connectors. In these or otherembodiments, an outer receptacle connector with sub-connectors may begrouped with an inner receptacle connector that does not includesub-connectors. Further, in some embodiments, one or more receptacleconnectors may be configured and sized according to the SAE J2863 suchas illustrated by receptacle connectors 450 in FIG. 4C. Additionally oralternatively, one or more receptacle connectors may have sub-connectorselectrically insulated from each other and configured such asillustrated by receptacle connectors 452 and 454 illustrated in FIG. 4C.Further, the number of sub-connectors for the configurations like theexamples of receptacle connectors 452 and 454 may be more or fewer thanthose illustrated in FIG. 4C. In addition, in some embodiments, thereceptacle assembly 200 may include one or more of the receptacleconnectors described in the present disclosure. For example, thereceptacle assembly 200 may include one or more receptacle connectors400 without sub-connectors 431; one or more receptacle connectors 400with sub-connectors 431 on the inner or the outer receptacle connectors,one or more receptacle connectors 450, one or more receptacle connectorsconfigured such as receptacle connectors 452 and 454, or any combinationthereof.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrates an example embodiment of the plug assembly 600of FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 6A depicts a perspective view of the plugassembly 600. FIG. 6B depicts a sectional view of the plug assembly 600.FIG. 6C depicts a front view of the plug assembly 600. As discussedabove, one or more components of the plug assembly 600 may correspond tothe SAE J2863 standard. In addition, the plug assembly 600 may includethe plug connectors 650. A subset of the plug connectors 650 maycorrespond to the SAE J2863 standard and another subset of the plugconnectors 650 may be outside of or in addition to the SAE J2863standard.

The plug assembly 600 includes a plug housing 602. The plug housing 602includes an outer casing or housing in which the plug connectors 650 areretained. The plug housing 602 includes a substantially cylindricalportion 620 that extends from a connecting face 604 to some distance 614from the connecting face 604. The distance 614 may correspond to a depthof a first cavity of a receptacle assembly. In addition, a diameter 616(FIG. 6C) of the substantially cylindrical portion 620 may correspond toa diameter of the receptacle assembly. For instance the diameter 616 maybe about four cm.

For example, with combined reference to FIGS. 2C, 6A, and 6B, thedistance 614 may be substantially similar to a depth 261 of the firstcavity 202. In addition, the diameter 616 of the substantiallycylindrical portion 620 may be substantially similar to the diameter 240of the first cavity 202. In some embodiments, the diameter 240, thediameter 616, the depth 261, the distance 614, or some combinationthereof may be sized according to the SAE J2863 standard. Accordingly,the substantially cylindrical portion 620 of the plug assembly 600 maybe configured to be positioned in the receptacle assembly 200.

Referring to FIGS. 6A-6C, the plug housing 602 may include a taperedportion 621 and one or more grips 623 in some embodiments. The taperedportion 621 transitions from the cylindrical portion 620 to a cablereceiving portion that may include a cable 625 coupled thereto. Thegrips 623 are attached to the tapered portion 621. The grips may help auser to remove the plug assembly 600 from a receptacle assembly. Forexample, with reference to FIG. 6B, the user may impose on the grips 623a force in substantially the x-direction, which may result in movementof the plug assembly 600 in the x-direction and out of a receptacleassembly. In some embodiments, the plug housing 602 may include morethan two or fewer than two grips 623. Additionally or alternatively, thegrips 623 may be attached to the plug housing 602 at another location.

The plug assembly 600 includes the plug connectors 650. The plugconnectors 650 are disposed in the plug housing 602. In someembodiments, the plug connectors 650 may be constructed of a metal suchas copper, steal, zinc, combinations thereof, or another electricallyconductive material. In some embodiments, the plug housing 602 may beconstructed of a plastic in which the plug connectors 650 are molded. Inthese and other embodiments, the plug connectors 650 may be fixed to theplug housing 602. For example, the plug connectors 650 may be solderedor epoxied to the plug housing 602.

In the plug assembly 600 of FIGS. 6A-6C, one or more connector cavities606 are defined in the connecting face 604 of the plug housing. Only oneof the connector cavities 606 is labelled in FIGS. 6A-6C. The connectorcavities 606 extend from the connecting face 604 in an x-direction.Thus, the connector cavities 606 extend from the connecting face 604into the plug housing 602 toward the cable 625 and are closed, that is,do not extend through the plug housing. Thus, the connector cavities 606are open at the connecting face 604 and do not include another opening.In the illustrated embodiment, two or more of the plug connectors 650are disposed and positioned, at least partially, in each of theconnector cavities 606 to form one of multiple female connectorassemblies 900. In other embodiments, one or more of the connectorcavities 606 may only have one plug connector 650 disposed therein suchas illustrated by female connector assemblies 950 of FIG. 9C describedfurther below. The female connector assemblies 900 are configured toreceive male electrical connectors. For example, with combined referenceto FIGS. 4 and 6C, the split receptacle connector 400 may be configuredto be received in the female connector assembly 900. Some additionaldetails of the female connector assembly 900 are provided with referenceto FIGS. 9A and 9B.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate and example embodiment of the plug connectors650. The plug connectors 650 are depicted with the plug housing 602 ofFIGS. 6A-6C removed. However, the arrangement of the plug connectors 650depicted in FIGS. 7A-7C is substantially similar to the arrangement ofthe plug connectors 650 when positioned in the plug housing 602. FIG. 7Adepicts a planar front view of the plug connectors 650. FIG. 7B depictsa perspective view of the plug connectors 650. FIG. 7C depicts a planarrear view of the plug connectors 650. The plug connectors 650 areconfigured to be electrically connected to systems of a trailer and tocontact one or more receptacle connectors. Contact between the plugconnectors 650 and the receptacle connectors of a receptacle assemblyenables communication of electrical signals with the systems of thetrailer and the tow vehicle.

The plug connectors 650 may include a central plug connector 711, anouter subset of plug connectors 704 (hereinafter, “outer subset 704”),and an inner subset of plug connectors 702 (hereinafter, “inner subset702”). The plug connectors 650 of the inner subset 702 include multipleelectrical connectors that are positioned circumferentially around thecentral plug connector 711. The inner subset 702 is configured in aninner hexagonal arrangement 708 (FIG. 7A). The plug connectors 650 ofthe outer subset 704 include multiple electrical connectors that arepositioned circumferentially around the central plug connector 711. Theouter subset 704 is radially displaced from the inner subset 702 awayfrom the central plug connector 711. The outer subset 704 is configuredin an outer hexagonal arrangement 706 (FIG. 7A). In some embodiments,the inner hexagonal arrangement 708 or the outer hexagonal arrangement706 may be sized, oriented, spaced, arranged, etc. according to the SAEJ2863 standard.

In some embodiments, each of the plug connectors 650 of the inner subset702 may be positioned with one of the plug connectors 650 of the outersubset 704 in one of the connector cavities 606. In these and otherembodiments, a plug connector 650 of the inner subset 702 that ispositioned in the same connector cavity with of the plug connectors 650of the outer subset 704 may be considered grouped. However, plugconnectors 650 of the inner subset 702 being grouped with plugconnectors 650 of the outer subset 704 does not indicate that electricalsignals that may be carried by the plug connectors are grouped orotherwise are associated or that the plug connectors 650 are grouped inany other manner other than in the positioning of the plug connectorswithin the plug housing 602. For example, in FIG. 7A a first plugconnector 719 of the outer subset 704 may be grouped with a second plugconnector 713 of the inner subset 702. Grouped plug connectors may bepositioned in one of the connector cavities 606 of FIGS. 6A-6C to formone of the female connector assemblies 900.

The inner subset 702 and the outer subset 704 each include asubstantially planar portion 715 and a crimp portion 717. Only one ofthe substantially planar portions 715 and one of the crimp portions 717are labelled in FIGS. 7A-7C. The crimp portion 717 may be configured toreceive a wire and to be mechanically altered to retain the wirerelative to the crimp portion 717 or the plug connector 704. Thesubstantially planar portions 715 of the outer subset 704 of plugconnectors 650 includes a contact surface 808. The substantially planarportions 715 of the inner subset 702 of plug connectors 650 includes acontact surface 806. The contact surfaces 806 and 808 may be configuredto contact a receptacle connector when a plug assembly that includes theplug connectors 650 is positioned in a first cavity of a receptacleassembly, such as the receptacle assembly 200.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-7C, the crimp portions 717 of the outersubset 704 are oriented away from the central plug connector 711. Thecrimp portions 717 of the inner subset 702 are oriented towards thecentral plug connector 711.

In addition, in the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-7C, the contact surfaces 806of the inner subset 702 are oriented away from the central plugconnector 711. The contact surfaces 808 of the outer subset 704 areoriented towards the central plug connector 711. The inner subset 702 isradially displaced from the outer subset 704 such that the contactsurfaces 806 are radially displaced from the contact surfaces 808.Accordingly, volumes are defined between the contact surfaces 806 and808. Male electrical connectors (e.g., receptacle connectors describedabove) may be introduced into the volumes as described elsewhere in thedisclosure.

In some embodiments, the central plug connector 711 and the outer subset704 may correspond to the SAE J2863 standard. In these and otherembodiments, one or more of the inner subset 702 may be outside of or inaddition to the SAE J2863 standard. For example, in these and otherembodiments, the outer subset 704 of plug connectors 650 may be similaror analogous to the first plug connectors discussed before a discussionof the Figures and the inner subset 702 of plug connectors 650 may besimilar or analogous to the second plug connectors discussed before adiscussion of the Figures. In other embodiments, the central plugconnector 711 and the inner subset 702 may correspond to the SAE J2863standard. In these and other embodiments, one or more of the outersubset 704 may be outside of or in addition to the SAE J2863 standard.In yet other embodiments, some of the inner subset 702 and some of theouter subset 704 may correspond to the SAE J2863 standard. In these andother embodiments, the remaining plug connectors of the inner subset 702and the outer subset 704 may be outside of or in addition to the SAEJ2863 standard.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7A-7C, thirteen plug connectors 650are depicted; six in the inner subset 702, six in the outer subset 704,and the central plug connector 711. In other embodiments, the plugconnectors 650 may include fewer than thirteen plug connectors. Forexample, the plug connectors 650 may include the central plug connector711, six plug connectors 650 in the outer subset 704, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,or 6 plug connectors 650 in the inner subset 702. Alternatively, theplug connectors 650 may include the central plug connector 711, six plugconnectors 650 in inner subset 702 and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 plugconnectors 650 in outer subset 704.

With reference to FIGS. 6B and 11, in some embodiments, the plugassembly 600 may include a switch mechanism 641. The switch mechanism641 may be configured to insulate one or more of the plug connectors 650from one or more wires that are retained in the plug assembly 600. Forexample, in a first position, the switch mechanism 641 may connect onlya subset of the plug connectors 650 that correspond to the SAE J2863standard to systems of a trailer, but may isolate or disconnect a subsetof the plug connectors 650 that do not correspond to the SAE J2863standard from corresponding wires retained in the plug assembly. In asecond position, the switching mechanism 641 may connect all of the plugconnectors 650 to wires retained in the plug assembly 600. Accordingly,when the switch mechanism 641 is in the first position, the plugassembly 600 may be configured to provide electrical connections for aseven-way receptacle assembly. When the switching mechanism 641 is inthe second position, the plug assembly may be configured to provideelectrical connections for a receptacle assembly that may includereceptacle connectors that may be outside of or in addition to the SAEJ2863 standard. The switch mechanism 641 may include any suitable switchconfigured to allow for the connecting and disconnecting of electricalconnections, such as a button, a toggle, and the like.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the switch mechanism 641 may beconnected to one or more of the plug connectors 650. The one or more ofthe plug connectors 650 may correspond to one or more connectors of thereceptacle connectors 250 that do not correspond to the SAE J2863standard. In response to the one or more of the plug connectors 650making contact with or receiving a signal from the correspondingconnectors of the receptacle connectors 250, the switch mechanism 641may connect the subset of the plug connectors 650 that do not correspondto the SAE J2863 standard. In response to the one or more of the plugconnectors 650 not making contact with the corresponding connectors ofthe receptacle connectors 250, the switch mechanism 641 may disconnectthe subset of the plug connectors 650 that do not correspond to the SAEJ2863 standard.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example embodiment of a group of plug connectors800 (hereinafter, “group 800”). The group 800 of FIG. 8 isrepresentative of one or more groups of electrical connectors that maybe included in the plug connectors 650 of FIGS. 7A-7C. The group 800includes a first plug connector 803 that may be included in the outersubset 704 and a second plug connector 801 that may be included in theinner subset 702. Each of the first plug connector 803 and the secondplug connector 801 may include the crimp portion 717 and thesubstantially planar portion 715 in some embodiments.

The substantially planar portion 715 of the first plug connector 803includes the contact surface 806. The substantially planar portion 715of the second plug connector 801 includes the contact surface 808. Thecontact surface 806 of the first plug connector 803, which is includedin the outer subset 704, is oriented to face the contact surface 808 ofthe second plug connector 801, which is included in the inner subset702. In addition, the substantially planar portion 715 of each of thefirst plug connector 803 is positioned substantially parallel to thesubstantially planar portion 715 of the second plug connector 801.

FIG. 9A illustrates example embodiments of the female connector assembly900 that may be implemented in the plug assembly 600 of FIGS. 6A-6C. InFIG. 9A, two female connector assemblies 900A and 900B (generally, thefemale connector assemblies 900) are depicted. An external view of afirst female connector assembly 900A is depicted in FIG. 9A and asectional view of a second female connector assembly 900B is alsodepicted in FIG. 9A.

As discussed above, the female connector assemblies 900 are disposed inthe substantially cylindrical portion 620 of the plug assembly 600. Thefemale connector assemblies 900 include the connector cavities 606 aswell as one of the plug connectors of the inner subset 702 and one ofthe plug connectors of the outer subset 704. In FIG. 9A, the femaleconnector assemblies 900 each include an embodiment of the first plugconnector 803 of the outer subset 704 and an embodiment of the secondplug connector 801 of the inner subset 702. Between the first plugconnector 803 and the second plug connector 801, the female connectorassemblies 900 include a volume 904. Accordingly, a male connector maybe introduced through an opening defined in the connecting face 604 andpositioned in the volume 904. When the male connector is positioned inthe volume, contact may be made with one or both of the first plugconnector 803 and the second plug connector 801.

For example, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 9, the split receptacleconnector 400 may be introduced through the opening defined in theconnecting face 604. The split receptacle connector 400 may then bepositioned in the volume 904 of the female connector assembly 900. Whenthe split receptacle connector 400 is positioned in the volume 904, thearced portion 408 may contact the first plug connector 803 and the arcedportion 404 may contact the second plug connector 801. Accordingly, anelectrical signal that is communicated along the first receptacleconnector 217 of the split receptacle connector 400 is communicated tothe first plug connector 803 of the female connector assembly 900.Additionally, an electrical signal that is communicated along the secondreceptacle connector 219 of the split receptacle connector 400 iscommunicated to the second plug connector 801 of the female connectorassembly 900.

FIG. 9B illustrates another example embodiment of the female connectorassembly 900. In the female connector assembly 900 of FIG. 9B, the firstplug connector 803 corresponds to the SAE J2863 standard. In addition tothe first plug connector 803, the female connector assembly 900 of FIG.9B includes two or more second plug sub-connectors 931A-931D (generally,plug sub-connectors 931 or plug sub-connector 931).

The plug sub-connectors 931 may be disposed and positioned in one of theconnector cavities 606 with the first plug connector 803 and positionedsubstantially adjacent to at least one other plug sub-connector 931. Forexample, the plug sub-connectors 931 may be positioned relative to thefirst plug connector 803 such that the volume 904 is defined between theplug sub-connectors 931 and the first plug connector 803.

The plug sub-connectors 931 may be electrically insulated from the firstplug connector 803 and from each other plug sub-connectors 931. Forinstance, the plug sub-connectors 931 may be separated from one anotherby plug sub-connector insulators 933. Each of the plug sub-connectors931 may be outside of or in addition to the SAE J2863 standard.Embodiments of the plug assembly 600 implementing the plugsub-connectors 931 may be configured to communicate with a receptacleassembly with corresponding sub-connectors.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9B, the plug connectors 650 include six femaleconnector assemblies 900. Two of the six female connector assemblies 900include the plug sub-connectors 931 while four of the six femaleconnector assemblies 900 do not include the plug sub-connectors 931. Inother embodiments, one or more of the female connector assemblies 900may include plug sub-connectors 931.

Additionally, the female connector assemblies 900 of FIG. 9B thatinclude plug sub-connectors include four of the plug sub-connectors 931.In other embodiments, the female connector assemblies 900 that includeplug sub-connectors may include more than four (e.g., five, six, twenty,etc.) plug sub-connectors 931 or fewer than four (e.g., three or two)plug sub-connectors 931. Additionally still, in the embodiment of FIG.9B, the inner (e.g., closer to the central plug connector 711) portionof the corresponding female connector assemblies 900 includes the plugsub-connectors 931. In other embodiments, the outer (e.g., farther fromthe central plug connector 711) portion of the corresponding femaleconnector assemblies 900 may include the plug sub-connectors 931.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the plug assembly600 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, in the embodiment of FIG. 9B, one of the female connectorassemblies 900 includes plug sub-connectors 931. In other embodiments,the central plug connector 711 may include a split configuration. Inthese and other embodiments, instead of the central plug connector 711including a single electrical connector in which a single electricalsignal is communicated, two or more central electrical connectors may beincluded in the plug assembly 600 and may be electrically insulated fromeach other. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, the central plugconnector 711 may include a first central plug connector 721A and asecond central plug connector 721B where the first central plugconnector 721A and the second central plug connector 721B may beseparated by an insulator tab, which may include an electricallyinsulating material such as plastic or air in some embodiments. In theseor other embodiments, the first central plug connector 721A maycorrespond to the SAE J2863 standard and the second central plugconnector 721B may be outside of or in addition to the SAE J2863standard. Additionally or alternatively, the central plug connector 711may include a plurality of sub-connectors that may be configured in asimilar manner as the sub-connectors described above. In these and otherembodiments, the configurations of the receptacle connectors of thereceptacle assembly 200 may be arranged to accommodate the changes tothe plug connector.

In addition, in the example embodiments of FIG. 9B, the inner plugconnectors are illustrated as having sub-connectors. However, in someembodiments, one or more outer plug connectors may be configured withsub-connectors in a similar manner. For example, FIG. 9C illustratesexample outer plug connectors 952 with sub-connectors. Further, thenumber of sub-connectors for the configurations like the examples ofouter plug connectors 952 may be more or fewer than those illustrated inFIG. 9C. In addition, the outer plug connectors 952 may be disposed withrespect to a same volume 904 as an inner plug connector 650 that alsoincludes sub-connectors 931 or with respect to a same volume 904 as aninner plug connector 650 that does not include any sub-connectors 931.In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, in some embodiments, one or morefemale connector assemblies of the plug assembly 600 may be configuredand sized according to the SAE J2863 standard in which only an outerplug connector 650 is disposed and at least partially positioned in acavity 606 such as illustrated by female connector assemblies 950 ofFIG. 9C. In addition, in some embodiments, the plug assembly 600 mayinclude one or more of the different plug connectors described in thepresent disclosure. For example, the plug assembly 600 may include oneor more female connector assemblies 900 without sub-connectors 931; oneor more female connector assemblies 900 with sub-connectors 931 on theinner or the outer plug connectors, one or more female connectorassemblies 950, one or more female connector assemblies configured suchas female connector assemblies 952, or any combination thereof.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the plug assembly 600 may include theelectrical plug connectors that are configured according to the SAEJ2863 standard and include a single female connector assembly 900 withthe plug sub-connectors 931. All electrical systems not included in theSAE J2863 standard may be communicated using the plug sub-connectors931.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate an example embodiment of the socketassembly 1000 that may be implemented in the connector assembly 100 ofFIGS. 1C and 1D, according to one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure. FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views of the socketassembly 1000. FIG. 10A depicts a first perspective view in which thesecond portions 1009 of the socket connectors 1002 are shown. FIG. 10Bdepicts a second perspective view in which the first portions 1007 areshown.

The socket connectors 1002 may include multiple socket connectors 1001,only one of which is labeled in FIGS. 10A and 10B. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 10A and 10B, the socket connectors 1002 may include thirteensocket connectors 1001. In other embodiments, the socket connectors 1002may include more than thirteen or fewer than thirteen socket connectors1001.

For example, with reference to FIGS. 2D and 10A, the number and/orarrangement of the socket connectors 1001 may correspond to the secondportions 253 of the receptacle connectors 250 that extend into thesecond cavity 204. In particular, in at least some embodiments, thenumber of arrangement of the socket connectors 1001 may correspond tothe rear receptacle arrangement 280 described in this disclosure. Forinstance, correspondence between the socket connectors 1002 and the rearreceptacle arrangement 280 may result in each of the socket connectors1001 electrically connecting to the second portions 253 of thereceptacle connectors 250 of the rear receptacle arrangement 280. One ormore of the socket connectors 1001 may be configured to contact one ofthe second portions 253 of the receptacle connectors 250. In thedepicted embodiment, the socket connectors 1001 may be arranged insocket connector groups 1011, only one of which is labeled in FIG. 10A.In the socket connector groups 1011, the socket connectors 1001 of agroup may be separated by a space 1013. One of the grouped connectors282 of the receptacle connectors 250 may be positioned in the space 1013such that the first connector 281A may contact one of the socketconnectors 1002 in the socket connector group 1011 and the secondconnector 281B may contact another of the socket connectors 1001 in thesocket connector group 1011. Reference to connector groups does notindicate that electrical signals that may be carried by thecorresponding socket connectors 1001 are grouped or otherwise areassociated or that the corresponding socket connectors 1001 are groupedin any other manner other than in the positioning of the socketconnectors 1001.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the first portions 1007 of the socket connectors1002 are shown. The first portions 1007 may include crimp portions 1017.Only one of the crimp portions 1017 is labelled in FIG. 10B. The crimpportions 1017 may be configured to receive a wire and to be mechanicallyaltered to retain the wire relative to the socket connectors 1001 or thesocket assembly 1000. In some embodiments, the wire may be a wire usedin a tow vehicle that is electrically connected to one or more systemsin the tow vehicle. The crimp portions 1017 of a first subset of thesocket connectors 1002 are oriented away from a central axis 1025 of thesocket assembly 1000. The crimp portions 1017 of a second subset of thesocket connectors 1002 are oriented towards the central axis 1025.Orientation of the crimp portions 1017 as illustrated may enableinclusion of the twelve socket connectors 1001 in the socket assembly1000.

Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the socket assembly 1000 may include theinsertion portion 1005. The insertion portion 1005 may retain the socketconnectors 1002 or portions thereof. The insertion portion 1005 may beintroduced and positioned in the second cavity 204 of the receptacleassembly 200. The insertion portion 1005 may include a diameter 1027(FIG. 10A and not FIG. 10B) that is substantially similar to an innerdiameter of the second cavity 204 of FIG. 2D.

The socket housing 1003 may include a border structure 1023. The borderstructure 1023 may surround the insertion portion 1005. The borderstructure 1023 may be configured to surround a portion of the receptaclehousing 300 when the insertion portion 1005 is positioned in a secondcavity of a receptacle assembly. For instance, with reference to FIG.1C, the border structure 1023 may be configured to surround a portion ofthe receptacle housing 300 opposite the door 221 when the insertionportion 1005 is positioned in the second cavity 204. Modifications,additions, or omissions may be made to the socket assembly 1000 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, variousembodiments and variations have been described with respect to thesocket assembly 200 and the plug assembly 600. The socket assembly 1000may be modified to accommodate such embodiments and variations.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example wiring diagram 1100 thatillustrates how the connector assemblies of FIGS. 1A-1D may be wired.The wiring diagram 1100 includes a tow vehicle 1102 and a trailer 1104.In FIG. 11, the tow vehicle 1102 is a pickup truck, but may include anyother suitable tow vehicle. Similarly, the trailer 1104 is an equipmenttrailer, but may include any other suitable trailer such as a 5th wheel,boat trailer, equipment trailer, a camping trailer, etc.

One or more systems of the tow vehicle 1102 may be electricallyconnected to the receptacle assembly 200. Similarly, one or more systemsof the trailer 1104 may be electrically connected to the plug assembly600. With reference to the receptacle assembly 200, multiple wires 1162,1160, 1158, 1156, 1150, 1148, 1146, 1144, 1142, 1140, 1138, 1136, and1134 (collectively, receptacle wires) electrically connect one of thereceptacle connectors 250 to one or more of the systems of the towvehicle 1102. In addition, with reference to the plug assembly 600,multiple wires 1106, 1108, 1110, 1112, 1132, 1114, 1124, 1130, 1128,1126, 1120, 1118, and 1116 (collectively, plug wires) electricallyconnect one of the plug connectors 650 to one or more systems of thetrailer 1104. The receptacle wires electrically connect systems of thetow vehicle 1102 to one of the receptacle connectors 250. The receptacleconnector 250 corresponds to one of the plug connectors 650 that isconnected to a corresponding system of the trailer 1104 via one of theplug wires. In particular, the table below lists the correspondencebetween the receptacle wires and the plug wires.

TABLE 1 Receptacle Assembly 200 Plug Assembly 600 Wire 1162 Wire 1106Wire 1160 Wire 1108 Wire 1158 Wire 1110 Wire 1156 Wire 1112 Wire 1150Wire 1114 Wire 1148 Wire 1132 Wire 1146 Wire 1130 Wire 1144 Wire 1124Wire 1142 Wire 1128 Wire 1140 Wire 1126 Wire 1138 Wire 1120 Wire 1136Wire 1118 Wire 1134 Wire 1116

One or more of the receptacle connectors 250 of the receptacle assembly200 may be wired according to the SAE J2863 standard. For example, thereceptacle connectors 250 may be wired according to a first table, whichis presented below:

TABLE 2 Receptacle Plug Assembly 200 Description Assembly 600 Wire 1162Ground Wire 1106 Wire 1160 First Additional System Wire 1108 Wire 1158Left Turn & Brake Light Wire 1110 Wire 1156 Second Additional SystemWire 1112 Wire 1150 Running Lights Wire 1114 Wire 1148 Third AdditionalSystem Wire 1132 Wire 1146 Reverse Lights Wire 1130 Wire 1144 FourthAdditional System Wire 1124 Wire 1142 Auxiliary Power Wire 1128 Wire1140 Fifth Additional System Wire 1126 Wire 1138 Right Turn & Brake Wire1120 Wire 1136 Sixth Additional System Wire 1118 Wire 1134 ElectricalBrakes Wire 1116The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth additional systemsmay include accessories or systems such as sensor systems, controlsystems, alarm systems, data systems, other light systems, and the like.Some examples of the additional systems may include a back-up camera,sonar systems, tire pressure monitoring systems, weight monitoringsystems, alarm systems, and the like.

Alternatively, the receptacle connectors 250 may be wired according to asecond table, which is presented below:

TABLE 3 Receptacle Plug Assembly 200 Description Assembly 600 Wire 1162First Additional System Wire 1106 Wire 1160 Ground Wire 1108 Wire 1158Second Additional System Wire 1110 Wire 1156 Left Turn & Brake LightWire 1112 Wire 1150 Third Additional System Wire 1114 Wire 1148 RunningLights Wire 1132 Wire 1146 Reverse Lights Wire 1130 Wire 1144 AuxiliaryPower Wire 1124 Wire 1142 Fourth Additional System Wire 1128 Wire 1140Right Turn & Brake Wire 1126 Wire 1138 Fifth Additional System Wire 1120Wire 1136 Electrical Brakes Wire 1118 Wire 1134 Sixth Additional SystemWire 1116The plug connectors 650 may be wired to correspond to the receptacleconnectors 250. When the receptacle assembly 200 is wired according toeither of the above tables, the receptacle assembly 200 may receive andcommunicate with the plug assembly 600 or another plug assemblyconfigured according to the SAE J2863 standard.

When the plug assembly is a 7-way plug assembly configured according tothe SAE J2863 standard, some of the receptacle wires may not communicatean electrical signal with a plug connector of the plug assembly. Forinstance, in embodiments in which the receptacle assembly 200 is wiredaccording to Table 2 and a 7-way plug assembly configured according tothe SAE J2863 standard is inserted therein, electrical signals may becommunicated along wires 1162, 1158, 1150, 1146, 1142, 1138, and 1134 tothe corresponding receptacle connections, and to the corresponding plugconnections and wires of the 7-way plug assembly. However, in suchembodiments, electrical signals along wires 1160, 1156, 1148, 1144,1140, and 1136 may not be communicated to the systems of the trailer1104 because the 7-way plug assembly may not include plug connectors andwires that may correspond to the systems associated with the wires 1160,1156, 1148, 1144, 1140, and 1136. Alternatively, in embodiments in whichthe receptacle assembly 200 is wired according to Table 3 and a 7-wayplug assembly configured according to the SAE J2896 standard is insertedtherein, electrical signals may be communicated along wires 1160, 1156,1148, 1146, 1144, 1140, and 1136 to corresponding receptacleconnections, and to the corresponding plug connections and wires of the7-way plug assembly. However, in such instances, electrical signalsalong wires 1162, 1158, 1150, 1142, 1138, and 1134 may not becommunicated to the systems of the trailer 1104 because the 7-way plugassembly may not include plug connectors and wires that may correspondto the systems associated with the wires 1162, 1158, 1150, 1142, 1138,and 1134.

In FIG. 11, an example of the switch mechanism 641 is shown. The switchmechanism 641 may selectively connect wires 1118, 1128, 1124, 1132,1112, and 1108 to the trailer 1104. In some embodiments, the switchmechanism 641 may connect one or more of the other plug wires to thetrailer 1104.

In embodiments in which the plug assembly 600 and/or the receptacleassembly 200 include fewer than thirteen connectors, some of thereceptacle wires may be wired according to the above tables and anyremaining receptacle wires may be connected to additional systems. Inembodiments in which the plug assembly 600 and/or the receptacleassembly 200 include plug sub-connectors 931 or sub-connectors 431, someof the receptacle wires may be wired according to the above tables andany remaining receptacle wires may be connected to additional systems.

Terms used in the present disclosure and especially in the appendedclaims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as“open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as“including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpretedas “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as“includes, but is not limited to,” etc.).

Additionally, if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation isintended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and inthe absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example,as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may containusage of the introductory phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” “atleast one of the following,” and “one or more of the following” tointroduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should notbe construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by theindefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containingsuch introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one”or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articlesused to introduce claim recitations.

In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitationis explicitly recited, such recitation should be interpreted to mean atleast the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “tworecitations,” without other modifiers, means at least two recitations,or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” or “one ormore of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction isintended to include A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and Ctogether, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, etc.

Further, any disjunctive word or phrase presenting two or morealternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings,should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including oneof the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, thephrase “A or B” should be understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B.

Additionally, the use of the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., arenot necessarily used herein to connote a specific order or number ofelements. Generally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., areused to distinguish between different elements as generic identifiers.Absence a showing that the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc.,connote a specific order, these terms should not be understood toconnote a specific order. Furthermore, absence a showing that the termsfirst,” “second,” “third,” etc., connote a specific number of elements,these terms should not be understood to connote a specific number ofelements. For example, a first widget may be described as having a firstside and a second widget may be described as having a second side. Theuse of the term “second side” with respect to the second widget may beto distinguish such side of the second widget from the “first side” ofthe first widget and not to connote that the second widget has twosides.

All examples and conditional language recited in the present disclosureare intended for pedagogical objects to aid the reader in understandingthe present disclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventor tofurthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitationto such specifically recited examples and conditions. Althoughembodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail,various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made heretowithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A receptacle assembly for a vehicle-trailerwiring connector assembly, the receptacle assembly comprising: areceptacle housing that includes a first cavity, the first cavityextending from a first end of the receptacle housing to a centralstructure of the receptacle housing; a housing opening defined at thefirst end, wherein at least a portion of the first cavity and at least aportion of the housing opening is sized and shaped according to theSociety of Automotive Engineers (“SAE”) J2863 standard; a firstreceptacle connector with a first portion that extends from the centralstructure into the first cavity; and a second receptacle connector witha second portion that extends from the central structure into the firstcavity, wherein the first receptacle connector and the second receptacleconnector are sized and are disposed with respect to each other suchthat the first receptacle connector and the second receptacle connectorare configured to both be inserted into a single connector cavity of aplug assembly in which the connector cavity is sized and shaped tocomply with the SAE J2863 standard and wherein the first receptacleconnector and the second receptacle connector are configured such thatthe second receptacle connector is electrically insulated from the firstreceptacle connector.
 2. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein thesecond receptacle connector is radially displaced from the firstreceptacle connector such that the second receptacle connector ispositioned between the first receptacle connector and a central axis ofthe receptacle housing.
 3. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising an insulator tab that is positioned between the secondreceptacle connector and the first receptacle connector.
 4. Thereceptacle assembly of claim 3, wherein: the first receptacle connectorincludes a first substantially planar portion that is radially displacedfrom the central axis; the second receptacle connector includes a secondsubstantially planar portion that is radially displaced between thefirst substantially planar portion and the central axis and that isoriented substantially parallel to the first substantially planarportion; and the insulator tab contacts the first substantially planarportion and the second substantially planar portion.
 5. The receptacleassembly of claim 4, wherein: the first receptacle connector includes afirst arced portion that is coupled to the first substantially planarportion and that extends away from the central axis; and the secondreceptacle connector includes a second arced portion that is coupled tothe second substantially planar portion and that extends towards thecentral axis.
 6. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein: thereceptacle housing includes a second cavity that extends from thecentral structure in a direction away from the housing opening; a firstportion of the first receptacle connector extends into the second cavityas a first male electrical connector in the second cavity; and a secondportion of the second receptacle connector extends into the secondcavity as a second male electrical connector in the second cavity. 7.The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first receptacleconnector is one of six first receptacle connectors; and each of thefirst receptacle connectors is disposed and positioned in the firstcavity in a hexagonal arrangement in accordance with the SAE J2863standard.
 8. The receptacle assembly of claim 7, wherein: the secondreceptacle connector is one of a plurality of second receptacleconnectors; and each second receptacle connector of the plurality ofsecond receptacle connectors is paired with an individual one of thefirst receptacle connectors, wherein the first receptacle connector andthe second receptacle connector of each pair are sized and are disposedwith respect to each other such that the first receptacle connector andthe second receptacle connector of each pair are configured to both beinserted into one of six connector cavities of the plug assembly thatare disposed in the hexagonal arrangement in compliance with the SAEJ2863 standard and such that the first receptacle connector and thesecond receptacle connector of each pair are electrically insulated fromeach other.
 9. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein: the firstreceptacle connector is sized and positioned such that, when the plugassembly is plugged into the receptacle assembly, the first receptacleconnector contacts an electrical connector that is disposed in theconnector cavity of the plug assembly in accordance with the SAE J2863standard; and the second receptacle connector is sized and positionedsuch that, when the plug assembly is plugged into the receptacleassembly, the second receptacle connector is electrically insulated fromthe electrical connector disposed in the connector cavity.
 10. Thereceptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein: the second receptacle connectoris one of a plurality of receptacle sub-connectors; and the firstreceptacle connector and the plurality of receptacle sub-connectors aresized, shaped, and are disposed with respect to each other such that:the first receptacle connector and the plurality of receptaclesub-connectors are configured to all be inserted into the connectorcavity of the plug assembly; the first receptacle connector and theplurality of receptacle sub-connectors are electrically insulated fromeach other; the first receptacle connector includes a firstsubstantially planar portion disposed in a first plane that is radiallydisplaced from the central axis; and the plurality of receptaclesub-connectors each include a sub-connector substantially planar portiondisposed in a second plane that is oriented substantially parallel tothe first plane and radially displaced between the first substantiallyplanar portion and the central axis.
 11. The receptacle assembly ofclaim 1, wherein: the first receptacle connector and the secondreceptacle connector are sized and are disposed with respect to eachother such that the first receptacle connector and the second receptacleconnector are configured to both be inserted into a connector cavity ofan other plug assembly; the other plug assembly is configured to beinserted in the housing opening and the first cavity and is differentfrom the plug assembly; the connector cavity of the other plug assemblyincludes a first electrical connector and a second electrical connectorelectrically insulated from the first electrical connector; the firstreceptacle connector and the second receptacle connector are configuredto be inserted into the connector cavity of the other plug assembly whenthe other plug assembly is inserted in the housing opening and the firstcavity; the first receptacle connector is configured to contact thefirst electrical connector but not the second electrical connector whenthe first receptacle connector and the second receptacle connector areinserted into the connector cavity of the other plug assembly; and thesecond receptacle connector is configured to contact the secondelectrical connector but not the first electrical connector when thefirst receptacle connector and the second receptacle connector areinserted into the connector cavity of the other plug assembly.
 12. Thereceptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first receptacle connectoris sized and positioned such that, when the plug assembly is pluggedinto the receptacle assembly, the first receptacle connector contacts anelectrical connector that is disposed in the first connector cavity ofthe plug assembly in accordance with the SAE J2863 standard; and theseventh receptacle connector is sized and positioned such that, when theplug assembly is plugged into the receptacle assembly, the seventhreceptacle connector is electrically insulated from the electricalconnector disposed in the first connector cavity.
 13. The receptacleassembly of claim 1, wherein: the seventh receptacle connector is one ofa plurality of receptacle sub-connectors; and the first receptacleconnector and the plurality of receptacle sub-connectors are sized,shaped, and are disposed with respect to each other such that: the firstreceptacle connector and the plurality of receptacle sub-connectors areconfigured to all be inserted into the first connector cavity of theplug assembly; the first receptacle connector and the plurality ofreceptacle sub-connectors are electrically insulated from each other;the first receptacle connector includes a first substantially planarportion disposed in a first plane that is radially displaced from thecentral axis; and the plurality of receptacle sub-connectors eachinclude a sub-connector substantially planar portion disposed in asecond plane that is oriented substantially parallel to the first planeand radially displaced between the first substantially planar portionand the central axis.
 14. A receptacle assembly for a vehicle-trailerwiring connector assembly, the receptacle assembly comprising: areceptacle housing that includes a first cavity that is sized and shapedaccording to the Society of Automotive Engineers (“SAE”) J2863 standard;a first receptacle connector disposed in the first cavity; a secondreceptacle connector disposed in the first cavity; a third receptacleconnector disposed in the first cavity; a fourth receptacle connectordisposed in the first cavity; a fifth receptacle connector disposed inthe first cavity; a sixth receptacle connector disposed in the firstcavity, wherein the first receptacle connector, the second receptacleconnector, the third receptacle connector, the fourth receptacleconnector, the fifth receptacle connector, and the sixth receptacleconnector are disposed in the first cavity in a hexagonal arrangementthat is in accordance with the SAE J2863 standard; and a seventhreceptacle connector disposed in the first cavity, wherein the firstreceptacle connector and the seventh receptacle connector are sized andare disposed with respect to each other such that the first receptacleconnector and the seventh receptacle connector are configured to both beinserted into a first connector cavity of a plug assembly in which theconnector cavity is sized and shaped to comply with the SAE J2863standard and wherein the first receptacle connector and the seventhreceptacle connector are configured such that the seventh receptacleconnector is electrically insulated from the first receptacle connector.15. The receptacle assembly of claim 14, wherein the seventh receptacleconnector is radially displaced from the first receptacle connector suchthat the seventh receptacle connector is positioned between the firstreceptacle connector and a central axis of the receptacle housing. 16.The receptacle assembly of claim 14, further comprising an insulator tabthat is positioned between the seventh receptacle connector and thefirst receptacle connector.
 17. The receptacle assembly of claim 16,wherein: the first receptacle connector includes a first substantiallyplanar portion that is radially displaced from the central axis; theseventh receptacle connector includes a seventh substantially planarportion that is radially displaced between the first substantiallyplanar portion and the central axis and that is oriented substantiallyparallel to the first substantially planar portion; and the insulatortab contacts the first substantially planar portion and the seventhsubstantially planar portion.
 18. The receptacle assembly of claim 14,further comprising: a first central electrical connector disposed insideof the hexagonal arrangement; and a second central electrical connectordisposed inside of the hexagonal arrangement, the second centralelectrical connector being electrically insulated from the first centralelectrical connector.
 19. The receptacle assembly of claim 14, furthercomprising an eighth receptacle connector disposed in the first cavity,wherein the second receptacle connector and the eighth receptacleconnector are sized and are disposed with respect to each other suchthat the second receptacle connector and the eighth receptacle connectorare configured to both be inserted into a second connector cavity of theplug assembly in which the second connector cavity is sized and shapedto comply with the SAE J2863 standard and wherein the second receptacleconnector and the eighth receptacle connector are configured and suchthat the eighth receptacle connector is electrically insulated from thesecond receptacle connector.
 20. The receptacle assembly of claim 14,wherein: the first receptacle connector and the seventh receptacleconnector are sized and are disposed with respect to each other suchthat the first receptacle connector and the seventh receptacle connectorare configured to both be inserted into a connector cavity of an otherplug assembly; the other plug assembly is configured to be inserted inthe first cavity and is different from the plug assembly; the connectorcavity of the other plug assembly includes a first electrical connectorand a second electrical connector electrically insulated from the firstelectrical connector; the first receptacle connector and the seventhreceptacle connector are configured to be inserted into the connectorcavity of the other plug assembly when the other plug assembly isinserted in the first cavity; the first receptacle connector isconfigured to contact the first electrical connector but not the secondelectrical connector when the first receptacle connector and the seventhreceptacle connector are inserted into the connector cavity of the otherplug assembly; and the seventh receptacle connector is configured tocontact the second electrical connector but not the first electricalconnector when the first receptacle connector and the seventh receptacleconnector are inserted into the connector cavity of the other plugassembly.